Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

I know not whether it will do the Part of an Effectual Apology, for the strictness of these Doings in the Churches of New-England: But I will here observe, That it has been a Proposal made by some Conformable Divines, in the Church of England; Would it not very much conduce unto the Glory of GOD, and the Edification of the People in their most Holy Faith, if every Person Baptised into the Christian Faith should be obliged, when he comes unto Years Discretion, to appear in the Public Congregation, there to make a Confession of his Faith, and recognize his Primitive Engagement; and that the Minister should recommend the Person unto the Grace of GOD, that he may be established, and persevere, and continue for ever? Yea, there have lately been in the City of London, many Religious Societies, living in Conformity to the Rites of the Church of England, whereof the Relater says; It is required of such as join to them, that they give the Society a solemn Account of their Sense of Spiritual Things, with the real Motives, which lead them ⟨p. 94⟩to this Undertaking, and what they seriously Purpose as to their future Life. This is many times done in Writing, — penned with such an honest, affectionate, and undisguised Style, with such pious and sensible Expressions, and in so modest and humble a Manner, that they would mightily affect any pious Person to read them, and move him to break forth into Pathetic Praises to GOD, who has given such Grace to Young Men in so degenerate an Age. These Religious Societies have strict Orders among them, relating to a holy Life, and an Exemplary strictness of Conversation; To which every Member, after Mature Deliberation subscribes his Name, with his Resolutions to live up unto them. The Churches of New-England will not certainly be blamed After this!

§. 5. We are not Insensible, That in the Fourth and Fifth Ages of the Primitive Christianity, it was counted an heinous Crime, to publish the Prayers and Rites used in the Sacraments; Yea, they counted it a sort of Sacrilege, and worthy, Prolixiori Anathemate. Nor did they think, as Basil intimates, That they could be called Mysteries, if they were Exposed unto common and vulgar Notice. None of the ΑΜΥΗΤΟΙ might be present at these Devotions; They secluded the Catechumens from them; They declined all Recital of them in their Sermons to a Promiscuous Auditory, cutting off with such an Aposiopesis, as, nerunt Fideles. To write them, was reckoned unlawful, They were Mysteria Chartis non Committenda; They were ΑΡΡΗΤΑ, and ΑΓΡΑΦΑ, Nevertheless,